Coppull St. John's Pre-school

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this warm and inviting pre-school. They happily greet their friends and quickly settle to their play and learning. Children enthusiastically explore the inspiring array of learning experiences offered to them. The environment has been carefully designed to create calm, purposeful learning spaces where children become engrossed in their play. Staff talk with children about what they are doing and challenge their thinking. Children make good progress in their learning. Staff tell children how proud they are of their efforts and achievements. This builds their confidence and self-esteem. Children feel safe and secure because staff know them well and respond to their needs.

Children respond positively to the high expectations of staff. They get on well together and show care and consideration for their friends. Children talk about being respectful of the needs of others. The older children are patient and kind towards the younger ones. They are learning to resolve difficulties for themselves and understand when their actions may have an impact on the feelings of others. Children are confident and independent. For example, they put out lunch boxes and chairs for themselves at lunchtime. When eating, staff sit together with children and enjoy a relaxed discussion about the day.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• Staff understand how children learn. They carefully consider the learning needs of all children. Children show curiosity and a real zest for knowledge as they engage with this thoughtfully planned environment. As a result, all children are building on what they know and can do.
• Staff make every interaction count as they show genuine interest in children's experiences and ideas. They skilfully add in new vocabulary and support children to use their language skills as they play. For example, during a game of dominoes, children used the word 'subitise' to describe 'counting with your eyes'. Children are developing good communication skills.
• Children enjoy sharing books in a cosy book area. Staff seamlessly link books to play activities. For example, when children are making worms out of play dough, staff bring in the book 'Superworm' and talk about the character. Children can identify the rhymes in books. They join in with refrains and predict what will happen next. This love of books helps to develop their vocabulary and language skills.
• Staff use daily routines to encourage children's confidence and independence. Children enjoy playing with empty soap dispensers in the water and develop the skills to pump out soap for themselves. Staff find creative ways to encourage children to talk about emotions. This helps children manage their feelings and understand how others are feeling.
• Parents and carers say that they feel lucky that their children attend the pre-school. They report that 'it is more like a family than a nursery'. They value the care and attention shown by staff. Parents say that they are well informed about their children's progress. Staff show an interest in children's experiences at home and build on these in pre-school. This helps to extend children's learning.
• Staff follow children's interests effectively to maximise learning. They take children's ideas forward and revisit themes. For example, after learning about colour mixing, children roll balls through paint. They watch the colours change as the pathways of the balls cross. In this way, children build on their previous learning. This helps them to know more and remember more.
• Children are learning about what makes them unique and different from their friends in pre-school. For example, they are learning that there are some things we are good at and some we are still practising. Staff have shared some ideas about other cultures with children. However, children have little opportunity to learn about communities beyond their own. This does not promote their understanding of the diverse nature of life in modern Britain.
• Leaders are experienced and well qualified. They are passionate about creating a warm and nurturing learning environment where children flourish. Leaders are always striving for improvement and have effectively prioritised developments within a new building and outdoor space. This means that children are supported to continue to feel secure in their environment.
• Staff and leaders swiftly identify children who may need additional support to reach their learning potential. They engage effectively with parents and other professionals to ensure that children's learning needs are met. This means that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop further the range of ways in which children are supported to develop an understanding of communities beyond their own.